😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,881 in South Bend, IN.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,872 in South Bend, IN.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,862 in South Bend, IN.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 17% more expensive than South Bend, IN, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, South Bend, IN40% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
South Bend, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$15.07$15.07
5.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$58.8$58.8
10.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$7.56$7.56
39.02%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$4.93$4.93
-41.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.87$1.87
19.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$1.52$1.52
-1.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$5.98$5.98
-41.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$7.30$7.30
-46.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
South Bend, IN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$0.82$0.82
39.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$2.64$2.64
-33.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.60$2.60
-32.31%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.98$2.98
8.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$11.81$11.81
14.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$10.30$10.30
-23.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$9.43$9.43
68.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$4.33$4.33
-46.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.28$1.28
32.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.40$2.40
-16.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.79$1.79
37.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$2.03$2.03
-9.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.56$1.56
28.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.50$1.50
28.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.98$1.98
-60.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$6.61$6.61
-
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$12.82$12.82
-55.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.16$2.16
-36.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$5.87$5.87
-49.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
South Bend, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.98$0.98
141.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$34.49$34.49
32.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$3.43$3.43
25.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.56$1.56
-47.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$29.75$29.75
-38.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.86$0.86
139.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$24.2K$24.2K
41.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$26.0K$26.0K
51.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
South Bend, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$170$170
-12.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$45.01$45.01
-54.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$49.93$49.93
-20.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
South Bend, IN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$41.99$41.99
13.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$26.33$26.33
-28.14%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$13.93$13.93
-34.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
South Bend, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$1,345$1,345
-54.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$23.9K$23.9K
-32.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
South Bend, IN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$39.96$39.96
161.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$29.97$29.97
40.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$49.43$49.43
90.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$49.32$49.32
142.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
South Bend, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$1,603$1,603
1.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$814$814
54.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$2,516$2,516
20.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$1,609$1,609
25.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$1,588$1,588
391.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$1,612$1,612
165.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
South Bend, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$3,257$3,257
-50.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.4
-40.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for South Bend, IN: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,603 in South Bend, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰South Bend, IN pays 103% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $59.0 in South Bend, IN. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $307, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lisbon vs South Bend, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and South Bend, IN?
Lisbon and South Bend, IN differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,881 including rent). South Bend, IN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, South Bend, IN earns 103% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and South Bend, IN?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,603 in South Bend, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and South Bend, IN?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $1,345 in South Bend, IN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. South Bend, IN is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and South Bend, IN?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or South Bend, IN safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and South Bend, IN are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or South Bend, IN?
Expats usually find South Bend, IN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.